Kentuck Wants Your 'Gold'; How To Watch Bama Women's Hoops Today

Up and at 'em Tuscaloosa!

In today's Daily, I give you everything you need to know ahead of the Alabama women's basketball team's second round game today, a pair of stories about the upcoming April 13 municipal election runoff and other news nuggets from my personal notebook to get your Wednesday started.

First, today's weather:

Party sunny for Tuscaloosa, with a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1 p.m. The high Wednesday is expected to be near 74 degrees with a low around 61.

Tuscaloosa Daily is made possible in part by Patch sponsor JamisonMoneyFarmer. To become a sponsor of Tuscaloosa Daily or the Tuscaloosa Patch website, email ryan.phillips@patch.com.

Patch Pick: On Tuesday, your humble narrator received the first of two Pfizer coronavirus shots courtesy of Walgreens in Northport. Appointments are becoming increasingly available and are free, in addition to being open to a wider segment of the population now under 1C of the distribution plan. Be sure to do your part and get the shot!

Here are the top 5 stories today in Tuscaloosa

1. The Alabama women's basketball team will take on Maryland in the second round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament today. The game will tip off at noon local time from the Alamodome in San Antonio and will be broadcast on ESPN2.

2. As runoffs for two contested Tuscaloosa City Council races approach on April 13, Jason Morton takes an in-depth look at the races, along with relaxed absentee voting regulations ahead of election day. (Tuscaloosa News)

3. Christian-based volunteer group Samaritan’s Purse was in Tuscaloosa County helping those in impacted by last week’s storms. (WVUA 23)

4. Here's a quality look at the hotly-contested District 7 Tuscaloosa City Council race, which saw Cassius Lanier defeat incumbent Sonya McKinstry. The incumbent alleges her opponent was not qualified to run for office due to his status as a convicted felon. (Tuscaloosa Thread)

5. The Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center says there are still several slots available for veterans to receive their coronavirus vaccination this week, Ugochi Iloka reports. (WBRC Fox 6 News)

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Tuscaloosa Patch Notebook

- A reminder that the City of Tuscaloosa is accepting live performer applications for the Druid City Arts Festival and Live at the Plaza. Click here for the application.

- Here's a fun Facebook post from the Tuscaloosa Police Department as it continues to focus on community policing efforts.

- Tuscaloosa City Schools has extended the pre-registration window for the Alabama First Class Pre-K so that more families can apply. The district will accept applications until March 8 at 11 a.m.

- Expect to read more tomorrow about a new countywide anti-litter campaign coming up for Tuscaloosa.

- MoneyGeek recently published data showing that women in Tuscaloosa earn $0.99 for every dollar made by a male counterpart. This is compared to the national average of $0.81, placing Tuscaloosa in the 34th percentile for equal pay. The full report can be viewed here.

- The Tuscaloosa City Council held its regular meeting Tuesday night. Watch the meeting here:

- Kentuck Art Center is creating a large, freestanding 5-0 to commemorate its 50-year anniversary and is accepting gold-colored objects and real gold for the 6-foot tall structure to be on display for photo opportunities at the 50th Kentuck Festival of the Arts on Oct. 16-17. Donations will be accepted beginning March 25 and will continue Kentuck has enough material to complete the project.

- I will be reporting live from today's regular meeting of the Tuscaloosa County Commission today, which kicks off at 9 a.m.

- Here's a reminder that The Tuscaloosa County Park & Recreation Authority (PARA) will host an Easter egg hunt this Saturday beginning at 11 a.m. at the Bobby Miller Activity Center. Cost to attend will be $3 for members and $5 for non-members.

- American Christian Academy defeated Northside 4-1 at home Tuesday in high school baseball action. Lefty Nathan Shelton secured the win on the mound for the Patriots, striking out 14 over seven innings of work and allowing only one run on one hit. Brandon Fenimore took the loss for the Rams, but did manage Northside's only hit for the game.

- The North River Christian Chargers softball team cruised to a 19-1 win over Tuscaloosa Home Educators Tuesday. Led by Katelyn Rhodes on the mound and at the plate, the Chargers saw their pitcher strike out eight over four innings, while also recording two hits and a RBI.

- The Central High School soccer team is raising funds with taco kits from Moe’s Southwest Grill available for order and pickup from the school on Tuesday, April 13. The taco kits feed 4-6 people for $29.99. Funds raised will go to support the soccer team. Click here to order.

- A big congratulations to the Tuscaloosa County High School Danceline for winning 1st Place in its division at a recent competition held at Thompson High School.

Now you're all caught up and ready to start this Wednesday off on an informed note! But don't miss out during the rest of the day! Be sure to follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for updates and more.

I'll see you around,

- Ryan

About me: I grew up in Tuscaloosa. I'm a graduate of the University of Alabama, an experienced journalist, editor and columnist and the founder of Tuscaloosa Patch. You can find me at baseball games, public meetings, events in the local arts community and wherever live music is played